Council defends its security spend

Staffordshire County Council has defended its decision to spend more than £35,000 on security guards at meetings claiming safety must be a priority. 

The council has regularly used private security guards after police were called to a demonstration by anti-racism campaigners on 11 December. 

The Reform UK-led council spent £35,381 stationing guards at entrances and inside County Buildings in Stafford at 31 meetings over five months.